Distance indicator



May'2 4, 1949. c. F.. DAVIS; JR 2,470,807

- I DISTANCE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 27, 1946 (Wm. F. @Mm; QW.

Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved distance indicator and more specifically to an indicator calibrated to indicate the distance in yards a golf ball would travel.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of an arrangement whereby a golf ball is freely supported in a position adapting it to rotate in a circle when driven by a golf club and said rotation of the golf ball allowing the indication of the distance in yards which the golf ball would have travelled had it been free to travel in the course of its normal flight.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such an arrangement as set forth herein which provides for a small and compact unit which may be assembled in or out of doors to enable a person to practice golf in a convenient location and enable him to improve his swing and game by the adjusted calibrations produced on the instrument indicating the abilities which he is displaying during his practice.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the character described which has a minimum of simple and durable working parts and a device which in its entirety is of a simple, economical and practical use.

Still further objects, advantages and improvements in this invention will readily appear when the following description is read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the assembled de vice.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top elevation of Fig. 3 as indicated by line d i.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention and in which like numerals indicate similar parts throughout A designates a flat horizontal base or supporting block to which is secured adjacent one face thereof a vertical U- shaped tube I which extends upwardly therefrom for a spaced distance and which carries thereon an adjustable set screw collar 2 adapting the vertical adjustment and support of a cylindrical rod 3 within the U of the tube l.

The upper end of the cylindrical rod 3 terminates in a horizontal leg 6 on which is supported vertically a housing 5 in which there is mounted a horizontal cylindrical bearing 6 opening through said housing.

A rotatable pin 1 is mounted in the bearing 6 to extend therethrough on either side thereof, and an elongated arm 8 is vertically secured to the outer end of the pin to extend downwardly therefrom to a spaced distance above the base member A where it bends angularly outward away from the base for a spaced distance to a point slightly above the floor or ground beneath the base. A horizontal housing 9 is secured to the bottom end of the arm 8 in a horizontal plane transverse the alignment of the axis of the pin l, and a threaded stud I0 is projected through the housing 9 carrying a golf ball H on one outer termination thereof. A coil spring !2 is secure-d around the stud Hi between the housing and the golf ball l l forming a resilient cushioning seat for said ball against said housing, and a wing nut i3 is secured on the second end of the housing about the stud It adjustably securing its extended position from the housing.

Thus it may be seen that by striking the ball H on the face thereof disposed oppositely from the housing 9 and the spring 52 the ball will be caused to rotate the arm 8 upon the pin 7 in a circle thereabout, for the number of rotations which the force and accuracy with which the ball is hit will cause. The upper extended opposite end of the arm 8 carries an adjustable counter- Weight M therein adapted to adjustably balance and properly position the depending motionless position of the golf ball I l.

The second extended end of the shaft 1 is fitted in a rectangular bracket l5 secured horizontally from the bearing 5 by braces H3 and said end carries a circular gear 1'! thereon Within the bracket It. A pin I8 is rotatably mounted in the bracket IS in a horizontal plane directly above the gear ll and carries thereon an enlarged gear is adapted for rotatable engagement with the gear ll of the shaft 5 and which carries a second smaller gear 25 thereon adapted for rotatable engagement with a second larger gear 2| which is also rotatably mounted within said bracket directly above the gear it on a pin 22 which extends horizontally through said bracket and which is rotatably mounted therein. This arrangement forms a calibrated geared reduction means for the predetermined calibration of the rangement 28 thereon which is adapted to be engaged by a spring arm 29 secured to the cross brace 26 adjacent said pulley.

A pin 30 on which said second pulley 24 is rotatably mounted extends through said cross brace 26 to an outwardly disposed position through the center of the face of a dial 3| secured to the front of the machine at the top of the brace or supporting arm 25, and said pin 30 carries an indicating arm 32 thereon adapted for rotation about the face of the dial 3|.

A resilient rubber band 33 or the like interconnects the two pulleys 23 and 24, and adapts the rotation of the upper pulley 24% from the lower pulley 23 when said shaft 1 is rotated by the rotation of the ball I I and arm 8 thereon through the medium of the reduction gears described, and said pulley 24 acting to rotate the indicating arm 32 about the face of the dial to indicate by the calibrated numerals on the face of the dial the yardage which the golf ball, would have normally :travelled in its free flight thus enabling the player using the device to know and recognize the faults andv probable necessary improvements in his swing.

The indicator arm 32 is so arranged that it will slip on its shaft if turned in a counter-clock- .wise manner to enable the operator to bring said indicator to its zero position on the dial after each indication thereof, and the spring arm 28 1 and teeth 28 on the pulley 24 form a ratchet arrangement permitting the clockwise rotation of the pulley 24 enabling the actuation of the indicator, but forming a ratchet lock against counterclockwise rotation of the pulley 2 thus locking the shaft 30 against rotation in a counter-clockwise movement allowing the slippage return of the t indicator to zero.

Thus it may be seen that by striking the golf ball in a clockwise direction the ball will rotate =-on its supporting arm about the pin rotating the gears and pulleys described hence giving a predetermined calibration of the distance said ball would have travelled. It may also be seen that the force with which the ball is struck is not the only determining factor in the calibration as poor angular striking such as would normally cause a -hook or slice will tend to give a two directional force to the ball and reduce its one directional rotation showing corresponding reduced cali- :bration. This induces the person practicing to improve the most important factor in his swing K which is his timing and reduce his tendency to --murder the ball and forsake effort for timing.

Having thus described and explained the con-.

struction and operation of this invention and with full belief that modification in size, shape and general characteristics would not depart from the spirit of this invention what I desire to claim is:

1. Adistance indicator of the character de-:

scribed comprising, a vertical standard, a vertical extension adjustably carried by said standard, a housing carried by said extension, a horizontal "bearing carried by said housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, an elongated arm secured vertically intermediate its length to the forward extension of said shaft, a counter-balanced weight adjustably secured to the upper end of said arm, a golf ball carried by the normally depending end of said arm, a pulley wheel rotatably carried by said housing, double reduction gearing means interconnecting the rearward extension of said shaft and said pulley, a horizontal pin rotatably supported at an extended distance above said housing, a dial indicator carried by ai p a s con ley wheel carri o a a :ward extensionof said indicator dial pin above said first pulley, driving means interconnecting .said pulleys, and means adapting the said ball when struck to rotate said pin for the purpose described.

2. A. device as set forth in claim 1 wherein, a horizontal housing is carried at the lower end of the elongated arm an extension is carried slidably in, alignment with and by said housing, a coil spring surrounding said extension, and a golf ball is carried by said extension seating against saidspring-and being normally held in an extended position from said housing thereby for the purpose described.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein, a ratchet wheel is carried by said upper pulley, a wheel engaging arm is carried adjacent said wheel, said ratchetmeans allows free rotationof said pulley 'ina clockwise direction only, and

means adapting said dial indicator to rotate freely on said pin ,ina counter-clockwise direction for the purpose described.

4. A distance indicator. of. the character described comprising avertical standard, a vertical extension carriedby said standard, a housing carried by said extension, a horizontal shaft rotatably supported in. said housing and having each of its ends projecting beyond the latter, an

, pin rotatably'supported atan extended distance ,above saidhousing a,:dial indicator carried by said pin, a second pulley wheel on said pin, driving means inter-connecting said pulley wheels and means operatively connected to said ball 1. adapting the ball-whenstruck, to cause rotation of said arm and shaft for the purpose described. :CARL F. DAVIS,'JR.

ItEFEBENGES CITE The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,245,739 "Thomas June 17, 1941 :FQREIGN PATE S Number Country Date 114,589 "Australia Jan. 2'7, 1942 

